Trolley-replacer.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

R. B. HIGGINS. TROLLEY REPLAUER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1905.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed August l i, 1905. Serial No. 274,132.

, the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trolley-replaeers, and has for its object to provide a device of the class embodying new and improved features of cheapness, durability, and reliability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for attachment to a trolleywire which when encountered by a trolleypole will move the trolley down and force it to seek and engage the wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plate secured to the trolley-wire and having downturned converging flanges which engage an unseated trolley and force it toward and to seek and engage the wire.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be h ere inafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved trolley-replacer as seen from above and mounted upon a trolley-wire and in operative position. Fig. 2 is a bot tom plan view of the improved trolley-replaeer. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the improved trolley-replacer and taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its preferred embodiment the improved trolley-replacer forming the subject-matter of this application comprises a plate folded or cast to form a central longitudinally-disposed fold 10, adapted to be secured upon the trolley-wire 1 1 in any approved manner, as by the rivets 12. The material from the central fold is bent outwardly at 18 and again downwardly at 14 to form the longitudinal channels 15. At a line somewhat below the edge of fold 10 the material is bent outwardly to form the shoulders 16 and again bent downwardly at 1.7, a line oblique to the fold 10 and forming converging downturned flanges 18. If folded, the ends of the device may be strengthened by folds of the material, as 19, at each end. In addition to being clamped upon the wire by the rivets 12 guy-wires 20 may be securedto the device in any approved manner, as by the loops 2]. engaging within holes in any convenient place, as the flanges 18, and secured to any convenient support, as the cross-wire 22, carried upon the posts 23.

When mounted upon the wire, the wider end of the l'replacer is presented to the oncoming trolley-pole 24-, which is drawn into contact with the replacer by the guy-wires 20, so that the trolley 25 is engaged Within the flanges 18, and the car advances the converging flanges draw the trolley over the trolley-wire, with which it engages at or before passing from the narrower end of the device.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the operation of the device will be fully and clearly understood, and it will be obvious that with. the devices secured at sufficiently near intervals along the trolley-wire, and especially at those points where the trolley is most likely to leave the wire, the trolley will be automatically returned to the wire, no matter how widely it may have been swung away therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A trolley-replacer for application to a trolley-wire and comprising a plate having a pair of shoulders arranged. on opposite sides of, and spaced from the wire, the outer sides of the shoulders being provided with inclined flanges for directing a trolley-wheel into engagement with the wire.

2. Atrolley-replacer comprising a plate secured at its middle line to the trolley-wire and having flanges on each side adjacent the wire at one end and receding from the wire and from each other toward the opposite end, and shoulders disposed between the flanges and the wire.

3. The combination with a trolley-wire, of a member having a shoulder extending longitudinally thereof and adjacent to and below the wire, the said shoulder widening laterally throughout its length and provided along its outer longitudinal edge with a downturned flange.

1. The combination. with a trolley-wire, of a member provided with a groove embracing the wire, means for clamping the groove upon the wire, a shoulder extending parallel with the groove and adjacent and below the wire the said shoulder widening laterally throughout itslength and provided along its outer longitudinal edge with a downturned flange.

5. The combination with a trolley-wire, of 'a member provided with a longitudinal groove embracing the wire and means for clamping the wire within the groove, a shoulder extending parallel with the groove and adjacent to and below the wire and separated therefrom by a longitudinal channel, the said shoulder widening laterally throughout its length and provided along its longitudinal edge with a downturned flange.

6. The combination with a trolley-wire, of a member provided with a central longitudinal fold embracing the wire, means for clamping the wire within the fold, longitudinal shoulders adjacent to and parallel with and upon opposite sides of and below the wire and separated therefrom by longitudinal channels, the said shoulders widening laterally throughout their lengths, and guy-wires secured to the sides of the member and arranged to hold the member horizontal and from longitudinal displacement upon the trolley-wire. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT BARNEY HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

MORRIs SALE, JoHN CHARTER. 

